August 5, 2021
Day 23
 
Even after all this time, I find I still have to check every label and not take anything for granted.  I discovered a salad dressing in my refrigerator yesterday that was pretty much all cane sugar.  The first ingredient was cane sugar.  The front label looked great, organic, non-GMO, etc., but it’s still sugar.  I dumped it all out.  
 
The next thing I double checked was the almond butter.  No problem there with sugar.  No sugar added and just almonds and sea salt. I had dates and almond butter for a snack in the afternoon feeling like I just wanted something luxurious, and it was. I am working toward adding more sweetness to life by enjoying nature, and trying to focus more on sweet relationships. 
 
I’d love to hear from you if you are following this no-sugar life.  Hope all is well with you.
 
Happy Thursday.
 
 
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August 4, 2021 Day 22   Wow, day 22 - that feels pretty good!    The experience of visiting Playa Bowl with my friend yesterday evening was really good thanks to the knowledgeable staff member at the counter.  She caringly and confidently led me in the right direction with my no sugar request, and I was pleased.  I had the green kale base which doesn’t have an added sugar, and added fresh blueberries, strawberries, and mango.  She suggested the no-sugar-added peanut butter, and then for fun I asked for chia seeds on top.  It was a real treat, and that was my dinner!  My friend ordered the acai base which we were told does have added sugar, with strawberries, mango and coconut. Read More

August 3, 2021 Day 21   I had my quarterly visit to the dentist yesterday for a cleaning.  All went well.  I love that feeling of clean teeth!  Do you ever think about sugar and your teeth?  Usually, we think about sugar and cavities with our children, but it can affect us all. Read More

August 2, 2021 Day 20   Even though desserts don’t tempt me, I am still getting an occasional craving for some dark chocolate.  So, last night when I prepped my morning green smoothie, I added cacao powder to see if that helps.  It’s so good and I’ll get a dose of magnesium too. Read More

Ultimate Blog Challenge August 1, 2021 Day 1   My super smart, and super nice friend Paul Taubman, aka The Gratitude Guru, runs a quarterly Ultimate Blog Challenge.  The challenge is to write a blog post each day for an entire month.  I’ve done the challenge before and have only gotten to day 15, but I thought I’d try again and see if I can make it for a full month.  Did you know that when you tell people what you are going to do, the chances of accomplishing it are dramatically increased because of the accountability that occurs? It is true! So, I’m not keeping this a secret and hope that you cheer me on.  Read More

August 1, 2021 Day 19   I made another batch of peppermint sun tea to have on hand, and found a delicious hydrating “lemonade” drink.  It’s just 3 ½ cups of water, the juice of one lemon, and a cup of spinach in a high-speed blender. If you can get over the green color, it tastes like lemonade, and is so healthy and hydrating. Read More

July 31, 2021 Day 18   The BBQ we’d been invited to for last night was cancelled, so instead I invited a few neighbors over for dinner.  It’s easy to control the food when you’re hosting.  Of course, I served wine too, but didn’t have any due to this no sugar year pledge to myself.  It would have been easy to have a glass of wine with dinner and carry on as others were, but thanks to my promise it was easy to say no. Read More

July 30, 2021 Day 17   Yesterday I got up and did beach yoga and played tennis.  My energy seemed really low all morning even though I had protein for breakfast. I had edamame, quinoa, and red pepper salad and a cup of homemade vegetable broth for lunch and just wanted to take a nap.  But of course, I had a whole afternoon of appointments so that was out of the question. I managed my way through the afternoon at my standing desk for one call, and then on the sofa for two more phone calls hoping I would somehow feel more energy. Then the migraine hit.  I very rarely (almost never) get headaches, and I don’t ever remember having a migraine.  But I couldn’t keep my eyes open and had to resort to Tylenol, no screens, and a nap. Read More

Thursday, July 29 Day 16   I was speaking with a friend yesterday who was following the sugar free diet and was trying to come up with ways to beat sugar cravings.  I suggested she eat more protein and fiber by filling up her plate with leafy greens, vegetables, and lean protein.  Like me, she also likes to follow a mostly plant based diet and was eating legumes and quinoa most of the time. I suggested she vary her food choices to include a wide variety of plant-based foods. Read More

July 28, 2021 Day 15   My first job at 17 was in a fine dining restaurant working in the kitchen making salads and desserts. Then when I proved myself, the cooks had me prep sauces and garnishes, and taught me how to debone and stuff ducks. I learned how to make baked Alaska, and more. At 18 I moved to the floor and learned about wines, and cocktails.  I learned the correct way to decant wine after doing it the wrong way the first time (long story for another time).  I learned how to pair wines with food, about aperitifs, dessert wines, cordials, and champagne. I continued to work in restaurants through my 20’s including full time at the Helmsley Palace in New York, and into my early 30’s even when I had a “real job”.  I devoured Kevin Zraly’s Window’s on the World Complete Wine Course book, dined at Window’s on the World, and visited wineries on weekends and when traveling to learn more. Read More